Learn Secrets About Your Dog’s Personality From Their Favorite Activities!

If you’re someone who knows or love a dog, then you know that, just like us humans, each and every pooch has their own personality.

Sure, all dogs tend to have some things in common, like affectionate tendencies and a love of running around, but they’re just as nuanced as any of us! Of course, it’s just a little harder for them to tell us exactly what’s going through those adorable heads of theirs.

Fortunately, most humans do just fine when it comes to figuring out their dog’s temperament. For example, you can tell a lot about the pup in your life from their favorite sleeping positions.

But most owners know that one of the best ways to understand any dog is to watch and see how he or she likes to spend the day. Though we wouldn’t necessarily call them hobbies, just about every canine companion has a favorite activity!

Depending on how your dog spends the day, he or she might be a lovebug, a social butterfly, a lazy bones, and much more.

Check out the gallery below to see what different favorite pastimes mean about your dog’s personality!

1. Socializing

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If the first thing your dog does when he sees a fellow pooch is run over to say hi, your dog is probably an extrovert and a true social butterfly!

Super sociable with other dogs, this pup is likely to initiate lots of playtime and share toys — at least sometimes. Though lots of dog breeds are very friendly, a dog who relentlessly pursues friendships with other pups may owe it to a bit of Labrador or spaniel heritage.

As the self-proclaimed life of the party, this dog would be thrilled to have a big family, canine or otherwise, for company. The more the merrier!

If you only have one pooch at home, but notice that your dog leaps at the chance to go to doggy daycare or on a playdate, it may be time to consider adopting a brother or sister!

2. Swimming

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Your dog is a tireless energizer bunny, who just loves spending time in the water. Whether it’s the ocean, a lake, or even a backyard pool, this pup will happily jump in to splash around at a moment’s notice.

Getting your dog out of the pool might be a little bit more challenging, since this water dog is practically a fish and can keep swimming for hours.

If your dog seems a little bit stubborn about leaving the water, it’s likely that your pooch has heritage from a breed trained for retrieving or even water rescues, like Newfoundlands or poodles, and is brave, energetic, and chock-full of willpower.

While it can sometimes be a contest of wills to own a dog like this, you know this valiant pooch will always have your back!

3. Car Rides

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If your dog tries to jump in every time you head to the grocery store, you have a pooch with a case of wanderlust!

This dog loves experiencing new things, even if it’s just a trip around the corner.

Dogs with hound or terrier roots may be particularly interested in getting out of the day-to-day grind, and often get bored hanging out at home all day. They can get destructive without new experiences, and don’t respond well to being crated.

Instead, this is a dog who loves changes in their daily routine and would happily accompany you on any adventure! Whether that’s just spending a day at the office with you or road-tripping across country, this pooch is game!

4. Long Walks

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This pup can walk for miles and then wonder why you seem so tired at the end!

While just about every dog loves running around and going on walks, your dog seems to have more endurance than the typical pooch, and he only has eyes for you!

Where as other dogs are ready to head home after a mile or two, this dog loves to hike through nature for hours, with their single favorite person at their side!

This pooch is probably also a “one-person” animal, who is closely bonded with their owner, but isn’t really interested in the company of other dogs or people.

This dog is happiest spending plenty of time with you, preferably spent meandering through the woods or up a mountain.

5. Digging

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If your dog is a digger, you probably have a pooch nursing the instinct to take care of you.

This dog is a nurturer. Every bone, chew toy, and old sneaker that gets buried in your backyard is being protected and saved for a rainy day!

Of course, you may not be such a big fan of the digging behavior, so you may have to train this pooch to redirect that energy in a less destructive manner.

Consider setting aside a part of your garden as a digging zone, and make sure to give them plenty of praise when they bury or dig there, to show that they took good care of you.

Also make sure this dog’s toy basket is well-stocked, so they never feel deprived and like they need to set things away!

6. Cuddling

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This dog is a born lovebug!

If your dog is happiest at your feet, next to you, or sprawled in your lap, he or she might be a tiny bit needy at times, but only because there’s no one in the world they adore as much as you!

This pooch may owe some of their temperament to ancestors from the collie, mastiff, or retriever families.

Of course, tempting as it is to let this cuddly cutie spend their days snuggling, it’s also important to make sure your dog is well-socialized and doesn’t develop separation anxiety.

Consider enrolling your cuddly pooch in daycare and setting aside a separate place for them to sleep, to keep an affectionate temperament from becoming anti-social or anxious. After all, this dog is a sensitive soul who always appreciates being nurtured!

7. Sleeping

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If your dog can usually be found dozing in the sun, you have a lazybones on your hands!

There’s nothing wrong with having a mellow pup in your life, just make sure that this dog is still staying healthy! In particular, watch out for famously sleepy bulldogs and their cousins in the mastiff family.

Lazy dogs do have a bit of a tendency to get chubby, which can lead to health problems, so make sure your dog is on a healthy diet and isn’t finding snacks. Also, encourage exercise for him by making sure it’s not too high-pressure or strenuous on his joints. A short daily walk at a slow pace is perfect!

The rest of the time, this low-key pooch is perfectly happy to hang around the house with you, ready and willing to join you in your next movie marathon!

8. Fetch

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If your dog wants to play fetch for hours at a time, then you might have a pooch who is a real smarty-pants!

This dog is bright, inquisitive, and loves solving the problem of hunting down that tennis ball again and again!

Plenty of dog breeds just adore fetch, but you might see a lot of this behavior is dogs with some shepherd or border collie to them — they tend to be brainiacs who love energetic problem-solving!

It’s great to give this pooch plenty of playtime, but make sure you have a supply of brain-teasing dog toys on hand for this clever dog, ready and waiting for when your arms get tired!

Which one of these sounds like your pup?

Let us know in the comments below and SHARE on Facebook so your friends can learn more about their dogs too!